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While there are others with more experience answering questions like this, let me offer a couple of thoughts to start. You're scenario sounds familiar in that your destination set is similar to how ours started out. RCI and Wyndham both offer a lot of options in the areas you are referring to and I'd suggest you consider those two systems as part of your investigation.

RCI has access to a LOT of resorts - BUT - and this is where TUG comes in very helpful - the quality of resort offered through RCI varies wildly. Researching a specific RCI resort is crucial. The resort reviews on TUG can be helpful for this but TUG does NOT have reviews on every resort and a you may find some TUG reviews to be quite old. When it comes to RCI resorts, you will have to carefully read and scrutinize other internet based resources. Remember that any resort can opt to be a part of RCI so you might think of RCI as something like the Wal Mart of resorts (except that comparison weakens when it comes to fees.....)

RCI offers you quantity.

Wyndham has far fewer resorts, but on the average, Wyndham resorts tend to be in better shape than many RCI resorts because Wyndham properties are built and controlled by efforts coordinated by Wyndham. There is a little more consistency within the Wyndham resort but there can be stinkers as well (again, read and research)!

You mentioned your destination list included the Keys, Smoky mountains, NYC, Nashville, DC
Wyndham has no properties in the Keys, but DOES have properties in the other areas you mention. Check out this resource:https://www.clubwyndham.com/cw/resorts.page

Check out the bargain section of resorts for sale within TUG.
See this post for a visual on how to access if you cannot find it
..and be sure to check out the bargain basement!

A final thought: you mentioned shorter vacations - in my experience, I have found Wyndham works better for shorter vacations because of the many fees RCI seems to like to hit us with for stays less than 7 days.

Since we are very close to several of the well reviewed Wyndham resorts I'm leaning towards that program. I'm trying to weigh my options on a Club Wyndham Access contract vs the Club Wyndham program at a specific resort.